After 16 years of dedicated service to the Tri-County Council for Southern Maryland and the Southern Maryland Agricultural Development Commission (SMADC), the Council is announcing that Dr. Christine Bergmark will be leaving her position as Executive Director of SMADC at the end of her current contract with the Tri-County Council for Southern Maryland effective June 30, 2016.

The Council and its Executive Board would like to recognize Dr. Bergmark for her many past accomplishments while serving as the Executive Director of SMADC. Dr. Bergmark started at Tri-County Council at the beginning of the State of Maryland’s Tobacco Buyout Program including the Land Preservation component and continued through the successful completion of those programs. SMADC has supported farm programs in each of the five Southern Maryland Counties. SMADC, though Dr. Bergmark’s efforts, has worked closely with former tobacco farmers in Anne Arundel, Calvert, Charles, Prince George’s and St. Mary’s Counties to transition farmers from tobacco production to diversifying their farming products.

Some of these programs include: starting the So. Maryland, So Good, annual Buy Local Challenge which is now adopted state-wide by Maryland, farm equipment rental program, grant programs for farms such as Growing Grapes for Wine and regional grants, branding programs such as the Southern Maryland meats and the Southern Maryland Trails Guidebook. SMADC working with county governments have preserved over 34,000 acres of agricultural land and reduced tobacco production in Southern Maryland by more than 90%.

The Tri-County Council and SMADC will form a search committee of agricultural-minded stakeholders to identify a new SMADC director to lead the Southern Maryland Agricultural Development Commission and build on current successes while moving toward new future agricultural development programs.

In her absence and until a permanent replacement is announced, John Hartline, the Council’s Executive Director, can be contacted for all related concerns. He can be reached at 301-274-1922 or jhartline@tccsmd.org.

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The Southern Maryland Agricultural Development Commission (SMADC) is committed to: a) a market-driven and sustainable farming future as Maryland transitions away from tobacco. b) a Maryland where farmland preservation, and environmental stewardship positively impact the quality of our air and water and c) cultivating awareness among consumers and leaders of the vital role our farms play in a balanced community, safe, nutritious food and a cleaner and healthier environment. To learn more about additional programs and resources, contact SMADC, P. O. Box 745, Hughesville, MD 20637; phone: 301-274-1922, fax: 301-274-1924; or visit www.smadc.com.